The Science Behind ProGo®

Published: Functional Foods in Health and Disease, 2024
Participants: 20 healthy adults, ages 30–60
Duration: 128 days
Design: Open-label, single-arm pilot study
Dose: The published paper reports 4,750 mg sachets taken twice daily. 

What researchers evaluated

• Vitality and quality of life
• Oxidative stress
• Inflammatory biomarkers
• Blood markers
• Self-reported skin, hair, and nail outcomes

Key findings

• Perceived energy improved overall, with a larger improvement reported among women
• Oxidative stress markers decreased
• HMOX1 and FTH1 antioxidant-related gene expression increased
• IL-5, IL-8, and CRP decreased
• Self-reported skin, hair, and nail scores improved, particularly among women 

Important limitation
This was a small single-arm study without a placebo control, so it is promising evidence, but it cannot establish that ProGo® alone caused every observed change. 

Published: Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences, 2015
Participants: 48 adults with iron-deficiency anemia, ages 18–65
Duration: 42 days
Design: Prospective, randomized comparison study
Dose: 16 g/day salmon protein hydrolysate versus 18 g/day whey protein isolate. 

What researchers evaluated

• Hemoglobin
• Serum ferritin
• Energy
• Alertness

Key findings

• Mean hemoglobin increased about 14.9% in the salmon protein hydrolysate group
• Serum ferritin increased from about 22 ng/mL to 53 ng/mL
• The whey comparison group did not show a statistically significant ferritin increase
• Participants receiving salmon protein hydrolysate also reported improved energy and alertness 

Important limitation
This was a relatively small 6-week study, and the published paper involved iron-deficient subjects rather than a general healthy population. The findings should not be generalized to everyone. 

GLP-1 + GIP Receptor Activity Study

Published: Marine Drugs, 2024
Study type: Laboratory / in-vitro research
Investigational ingredient: Atlantic salmon-derived soluble protein hydrolysate

What researchers evaluated

• GLP-1 receptor activity
• GIP receptor activity
• Dose-response effects
• Activity of smaller peptide fractions

Key findings

• Researchers reported dose-dependent increases in both GLP-1 and GIP receptor activity
• At higher test concentrations, the salmon protein hydrolysate produced substantially greater receptor activity than control conditions
• Smaller peptide fractions also showed biological activity in the receptor assays

Why this study matters
This gives a plausible mechanism for why salmon-derived bioactive peptides are being studied for metabolic health.

Important limitation
This was an in-vitro laboratory study, not a human clinical trial. It does not prove that taking triGLP or IGNYT produces the same receptor activity in the human body, and it does not make these products equivalent to prescription GLP-1 medications.

Study type: Laboratory / in-vitro research
Investigational ingredient: triGLP / salmon protein hydrolysate peptide fractions

What researchers evaluated

• Glucose uptake into muscle cells
• Insulin-dependent and insulin-independent mechanisms
• DPP-IV inhibition
• How smaller peptide fractions may influence glucose metabolism

Key findings

• ORYGN’s research packet reports that smaller peptide fractions increased direct glucose uptake into muscle cells by approximately 100% compared with control
• The materials also report DPP-IV inhibitory activity, a mechanism that may help prolong the activity of naturally occurring incretin hormones
• These findings were used to explore possible mechanisms behind the fasting-glucose changes observed in some of the human studies. 

Why this study matters
It provides laboratory evidence that the peptides may influence glucose handling through more than one biological mechanism.

Important limitation
This was laboratory evidence, not a human clinical trial showing that triGLP or IGNYT doubles muscle glucose uptake in people. The “100% increase” refers to the experimental cell model described in the research materials. 

FDA New Dietary Ingredient (NDI)
Hofseth BioCare states that ProGo® received an FDA NDI acknowledgement in 2022, under NDI report 1254, with use up to 24 g/day in adults, excluding pregnant women. An NDI acknowledgement relates to the ingredient’s regulatory/safety basis; it is not FDA approval of efficacy. 

FDA Structure/Function Claims
Hofseth reports that ProGo® has notified FDA of structure/function claims covering areas such as ferritin and hemoglobin, energy utilization, red blood cell production, GI/immune health, iron absorption, skin health, fatigue, and antioxidant support. These are dietary-supplement claims, not drug approvals. 

Health Canada
Hofseth reports authorized Canadian claim language around maintaining healthy ferritin and hemoglobin, oxygen-transport blood components, antioxidant support, and healthy skin. 

Non-GMO Verification
We can include this as a quality/certification item, but I’d keep it separate from FDA/Health Canada because it is a third-party certification, not a government efficacy review.

NDI status does not mean FDA approved ProGo® as a drug or approved ORYGN’s finished products for weight loss. Structure/function claims are also not the same as FDA drug approval.